Cigarette dispenser and lighter



Nov. 5, 1940. M. GREENBAUM CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER Filed Aug. 26, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V GI2 I NVEN TOR. JeeIaZaz/M ATTORNEY.

Nov. 5, 1940. M. GREENBAUM 2,220,445

CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER Filed Aug. 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Zfa ZZZ zseizzwum/ BY J a ATTOIENEY.

Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER Application August 26, 1939, Serial No. 292,044

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved means for dispensing and lighting cigarettes.

This invention has for an object to provide a novel, simple and easily manipulated dispensing magazine for cigarettes having means for automatically lighting a cigarette when delivered by manipulation of the dispensing means of the magazine.

This invention has for another object to provide a cigarette dispensing magazine adapted to successively feed single cigarettes from a supply thereof contained in the storage chamber of the magazine to a point accessible to a manipulatable dispensing or delivery means, whereby a single cigarette, by manipulation of the dispensing or delivery means, may be picked up and positioned so as to be readily accessible for removal; electrical means being further provided in connection with the dispensing or delivery means for igniting the cigarette so picked up; said igniting means being automatically turned on and off by movement of said dispensing or delivery means.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in connection with the dispensing or delivery means of the device, means for automatically positioning an end of a cigarette engaged thereby in a predetermined spaced relation to the electrical igniting element'so that, when the latter becomes incandescent, air is interposed between the same and the adjacent cigarette end in support of combustion of the'cigarette tobacco when ignited by the heat radiated from said igniting element, to thereby assure quick and thorough ignition of said cigarette end.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the novel means for dispensing and lighting cigarettes according to this invention; and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional View of the magazine and the manipulatable dispensing or delivery means cooperative therewith, the latter being shown in closed position, said view being taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2, but drawn on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3, but showing the dispensing or delivery means in open position; Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section, taken on line 55 in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view, taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 2, but drawn on an enlarged scale; Fig. '7 is a vertical longitudinal section, taken on line 11 in Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary end elevation showing the ignition device control switch in open position; and Fig. 9 is a similar view showing saidignition device control switch in closed position.

Similar characters of reference'are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring tothe drawings, an illustrative form of the novel means for dispensing and lighting cigarettes as shown therein comprises, a magazine body Ill, the upper interior ll of which provides a storage. chamber within which a supply of cigarettes C may be deposited. Said magazineis provided with a top opening through which cigarettes may be passed for deposit within the storage chamber I I; sald'opening'being normally closed by a door I2 which is hingedly connected with the magazine body it. Said magazine body It is preferably provided at its lower portion with inclined front and back walls l3 and 14 which converge upon an outlet passage I5 sized to permit descent ther-ethrough of one. cigarette at a time from the storage chamber Ii. Said outlet passage l5 terminates in a transversely curved supporting ledge 16, contiguous to the outer margin of which is'anoutwardly facing discharge opening 11. said storage chamber II will gravitate so as to successively pass,'.one' at a time, downwardly through said outlet passage I5, and so that the lowermost cigarette C will lodge upon and be supported by said ledge 16 immediately behind and so as to be exposed through said discharge opening [1.

Journaled in and between the end walls of said magazine body I 0, at a point adjacent to the rearward upper portion thereof, is a hinge pintle or rod l8. The rear margin of said door 12 is provided with hinge elements H] which are pivotally engaged upon and around portions of said hinge pintle or rod It. Pivotally mounted on the exterior portions of said hinge pintle or red It is a .dispensing or delivery, means which straddles the magazine body Ill at the front thereof, and so as to oppose said discharge opening I! when in closed position. Said dispensing or delivery means comprises, a front wall 2!] having side members 21 extending rearwardly or inwardly from the vertical margins of said front wall 28. Said side members 2| are so formed as to terminate in perforate extensions or ears 22 at'their upper free end portions, Which ears 22 are en'- The cigarettes contained in gaged on the exterior ends of said hinge pintle or rod I8, thus mounting said dispensing or delivery means subject to outward and upward swinging movement relative to said magazine body l6. Suitably disposed to project from the front wall 20 of said dispensing or delivery means is a handle, knob or finger piece 23 by means of which the latter may be raised and lowered in operative manipulation thereof.

Affixed to the interior face of the front wall 20 of said dispensing or delivery means is a cigarette gripper device. This gripper device, in an illustrative form thereof as shown, comprises a base plate 24 suitably affixed to said wall 2!). Extending from this base plate 24 are spaced pairs of resilient gripper fingers, each pair of which provides a lower gripper finger 25 and an These gripper fingers upper gripper finger 26. are shaped at their free end portions to provide curved jaw portions 21 which more or less conform to the cylindrical surfaces of the cigarette to be engaged thereby. Said jaw portions 21 are provided with out-turned or curved terminal elements 28, so as to guide the jaw portions onto the cigarette surfaces without risk of tearing or otherwise injuring the paper casing of the cigarette. The gripper fingers 25 and 26 are in relative divergent disposition so as to move over a cigarette in such manner as to grasp the latter between the jaw portions 21 thereof.

In operating the dispensing or delivery means, the'same is swung outward far enough to withdraw the gripper fingers 25-26 outwardly through the discharge opening whereupon a cigarette C will drop and come to rest upon the supporting ledge IS. A cigarette being in supported position upon said ledge IS, a downward and inward swinging movement is imparted to the dispensing or delivery means, whereby the gripper fingers 25-26 are projected inwardly through the discharge opening H, and toward and into engagement with said cigarette. In operatively engaging the cigarette the jaw portions 21 of the gripper fingers 25--26 straddle the body of said cigarette and ride onto the same so as to grip it between the opposed jaw portions. The gripper fingers being resilient readily yield to such movement of the jaw, portions, and then, by their elasticity, press the opposed jaw portions into operative gripping relation to the cigarette. Preferably at least two spaced pairs of gripper fingers are provided, so that the cigarette is engaged at the spaced points along its length, and is then held against displacement from its longitudinally disposed relation to the dispensing or delivery means.

The means for igniting a dispensed cigarette comprises, an igniting element 29 containing a coil of electrical resistance wire 30 adapted to become incandescent when an electric current is caused to flow therethrough. Said igniting element 29 is afiixed, by its threaded stud 3| and cooperating nut 32, to a side member 2| of the dispensing or delivery means, and in a position so as to be axially aligned with a cigarette gripped and held by the gripper fingers of said dispensing or delivery means. The control of said igniting element 29 is automatically attained by the up and down swinging of said dispensing or delivery means, and to this end a control switch means is provided comprising a .stationary contact element afiixed to an end wall of the magazine body I0, and a movable contact element-carried. by the adjacent side member 2| of the dispensing or delivery means.

An illustrative form of switch means so characterized comprises, a stationary contact plate 33 which is afiixed to said end wall of the magazine body II), but insulated therefrom by suitably arranged interposed insulation 34. This stationary contact plate 33 is of arcuate shape radially offset but concentric to the pivotal point (viz. the pintle or rod I8) about which the dispensing or delivery means swings. The movable contact element comprises, a contact stud 35 which is affixed to but insulated from the adjacent side member 2| of the dispensing or delivery means at a radially offset distance from the pivotal point of the latter corresponding to the radially offset position of said stationary contact plate 33, and so as to project from the inner surface of said side member 2|. When the dispensing or delivery means is disposed in normal down-swung closed position, said contact stud 35 is offset in spaced relation from the lower end of said stationary contact plate 33, and is therefore out of contact therewith, i. e. in electric circuit interrupting relation thereto (see Fig. 8). When the dispensing or delivery means is up-swung to cigarette dispensing position, the contact stud 35 will, during the upswinging movement of the dispensing or delivery means, ride onto said stationary contact plate 33 and will remain in contact therewith while said dispensing or delivery means is held in raised position, and is therefore disposed in electric circuit closing relation thereto (see Fig. Current is supplied to said stationary contact plate 33 through a conductor 36 leading-thereto from a source of electrical energy. Current is delivered from the contact stud 35 by a conductor 31 (supported on the side member 2| of the dispensing or delivery means) to one end of the coil 30 of the igniting element 29, the opposite end of said coil 30 being suitably connected for completion of the circuit back to the source of electric energy. Preferably said opposite end of the coil 30 is grounded on the dispensing or delivery means and thence through the magazine body, and a return circuit conductor 38 (see Fig. l) is connected with the latter to lead back to the source of energy.

If the novel cigarette dispenser andlighter is to be used in a portable form, e. g. in the home, the magazine body is mounted on a suitable upstanding pedestal 39 which rises from a supporting base 40. If it is desired to servethe device, under such circumstances, from the ordinary relatively high voltage house service current, then a voltagestep down transformer T is provided from which the required electrical connections are made through the control switch and igniting device. Said transformer T may be suitably mounted on the back of the pedestal 39 and enclosed in a suitably mounted enveloping cover or casing 4|. A cable 42 is led to the transformer to supply current thereto from the house circuit.

One very advantageous and convenient use of the novel cigarette dispenser and lighter is as an accessory in automobiles. In such use the magazine body l0 may suitably be affixed directly to the steering column, instrument board, or in any other convenient location within the automobile, and served directly from the storage battery of the latter, in which case the transformer T is dispensed with, being unnecessary due to the relatively low voltage. output of such. storage battery which makes possible direct service of its current output to the control switch and igniting element of the dispenser and lighter.

I have found that more efficient and thorough ignition of a cigarette is attained if the end thereof to be lighted is disposed in a predetermined spaced although closely adjacent relation to the incandescent coil of the igniting element, so that air may be interposed between the latter and the opposed cigarette and to better support combustion of the tobacco during ignition. Furthermore, such mode of operation is also of advantage in that the igniting coil 30 is kept clean and free from accumulations of charred tobacco, etc., which is otherwise detrimental to its efiiciency. In order, therefore, to automatically assure a disposition of the dispensed cigarette, so that the end thereof to be lighted is in the desired spaced relation to the igniting element during the ignition period, the following means is provided, viz. a portion of the side member 2| of the dispensing or delivery means, opposite to that by which the igniting element is carried, is provided with a resilient inwardly off-set pusher arm 43 having an outwardly curved cam-like extremity 44. This pusher arm 43, when the dispensing or delivery means is swung down to closed position, and so as to pick up a cigarette by the gripper fingers 25-26, enters through the discharge opening l1 and engages the adjacent end of the cigarette lodged on the ledge Hi. In thus engaging the cigarette end, the cam-like extremity 44 of the pusher arm presses against the cigarette end in such ma ner as to produce a longitudinal shift of the cigarette until its opposite end is stopped by abutment upon the end wall of the magazinebody adjacent to the ledge 16. The igniting element 29 occupies a predetermined spaced relation to said end wall (see Fig. and consequently when the cigarette is withdrawn, by the dispensing and delivery means, outwardly through the discharge opening I1, the end thereof thereupon exposed toward and opposed to said igniting device 29 will likewise be in predetermined spaced relation to the latter (see Fig. 7).

Owing to the converging bottom wall sections of the magazine body, it might sometimes occur that the cigarettes contained in the storage chamber 1 i would become jammed so as to bridge over the entrance to the outlet passage l5, thus obstructing proper gravitation into the latter of a cigarette ready to be dispensed. To guard against such occurrence, means is provided for somewhat agitating the cigarettes contained in the storage chamber ll each time the dispensing or delivery means is raised and lowered. The means for serving this purpose comprises an oscillatable agitator member 45 which is pivotally dependent from the hinge pintle or rod l8 contiguous to the interior face of the rear wall of said magazine body l9. Said agitator member 45 is provided with spaced arms 46 dependent therefrom. At one end (as shown at its left hand end, see Figs. 5 and 6), said agitator member is provided with a forwardly projecting perforate ear 51, which extends along the inner side of the adjacent end wall of said magazine body it. Said wall of the magazine body is pro vided with aslotway 48 radially offset from but concentric to the pivotal point of the dispensing or delivery means of the device. The side memher 2! of the dispensing or delivery means is' provided with a stud 49 adapted to project inwardly therefrom and through said slotway 48 so as to ride in the latter when the dispensing or delivery means is raised and lowered. When the dispensing or delivery means is lowered to normal closed position, said stud 49 registers with and enters the perforation of the ear4l of said agitator member. When the dispensing or delivery means is outswung and raised, the stud 49, which is initially engaged in the perforation of the ear 47, moves upwardly through the slotway 48, thus imparting an outswinging movement to the agitator member 45 and its arms 46 (see broken line representation thereof in Fig. 4). Such movement of the agitator member imparts a forward and upward shifting movement to the cigarettes contained in the storage chamber II, thus breaking up any jamming disposition thereof. When the cigarettes, as thus moved or shifted, by their weight or shifted position offer increasing resistance to the forward swinging movement of the agitator member 45 and its arms 4%, the stud 49, the end of which is preferably rounded, will ride out of the perforation of the ear 4?, whereupon the agitator member and its arms will drop back to normal initial position, but in the meantime a shifting lift has been imparted to the cigarettes sufficient to assure the breaking up of any jamming disposition thereof. When the dispensing or delivery means is returned to normal downswung closed'position, the stud 49 will ride over the ear 41 and reengage the perforation thereof, so that a repetition of the operative movement of the agitator member 45 is assured each time the dispensing or delivery means is manipulatively outswung and raised.

From the above description it will be obvious that a very simple, easily actuated and efficient cigarette dispenser and lighter is provided by my invention. Attention is called to the fact that the control switch means is immediately closed following a short initial distance of outswinging movement of the dispensing or delivery means, and consequently the ignition element becomes energized immediately the opposed cigarette end clears the intervening end wall of the magazine body, so that its igniting effect is initiated in the early stages of the uprising movement of the dispensing or delivery means and is continued so long as the latter is held raised. It will thus be seen that no loss of time in the ignition operation is involved, but rather that a rapid and effective lighting of the cigarette is assured. After the cigarette is ignited, the operator removes the same from the gripper fingers 2526, whereupon the dispensing or delivery means is closed, and in closing picks up by its gripper fingers the next cigarette ready to be dispensed and lighted by a succeeding operation of the dispensing or delivery means.

I am aware that many changes could be made in the construction of the above described cigarette dispenser and lighter, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Iclaim:

1. A cigarette dispenser and lighter comprising, a magazine having means to which cigarettes stored therein move one at a time by gravity to a supported position subject to be engaged and removed, a manipulatable dispensing means movable to engage a thus supported cigarette and remove the same, an electrical igniting element carried by said dispensing means so as to be opposed to an end of the cigarette engaged and removed by the latter, switch means controlled by the movements of said dispensing means for serving energizing current to said igniting element, and said dispensing means having means to longitudinally shift the cigarette to be operatively engaged and removed thereby to a position Wherein the cigarette end to be ignited is disposed in a predetermined air gap forming spaced relation to said igniting element.

2. A cigarette dispenser and lighter comprising, a magazine having means to which cigarettes stored therein move one at a time by gravity to a supported position subject to be engaged and removed, a manipulatable dispensing means movable to engage a thus supported cigarette and remove the same, an electrical igniting element carried by said dispensing means so as to be opposed to an end'of the cigarette engaged and removed by the latter, switch means controlled by the movements of said dispensing means for serving energizing current to said igniting element, oscillatory means within said magazine for agitating the cigarettes stored therein, and means controlled by movement of said dispensing means for imparting operative movement to said agitating means.

3. A cigarette dispenser and lighter comprising, a magazine having means to which cigarettes stored therein move one at a time by gravity to a supported position subject to be engaged and removed, a manipulatable dispensing device pivotally connected to swing toward and from said magazine, said dispensing device carrying resilient gripper fingers adapted upon movement toward said magazine to straddle and grip a cigarette supported subject to removal, an electrical igniting element carried by said dispensing means so as to be opposed to an end of the cigarette held by said gripper fingers, and a switch means controlled by the movement of said dispensing means for serving energizing current to said igniting element during swinging movement of said dispensing means away from said magazine and while the same is held out-swung to cigarette delivering position.

4. A cigarette dispenser and lighter comprising, a magazine having means to which cigarettes stored therein move one at a time by gravity to a supported position subject to be engaged and removed, a manipulatable dispensing device pivotally connected to swing toward and from said magazine, said dispensing device carrying resilient gripper fingers adapted upon movement toward said magazine to straddle and grip a cigarette supported subject to removal, an electrical igniting element carried by said dispensing means so as to be opposed to an end of the cigarette held by said gripper fingers, a switch means controlled by the movement of said dispensing means for serving energizing current to said igniting element during swinging movement of said dispensing means away from said magazine and while the same is held out-swung to cigarette delivering position, and said dispensing means having means to longitudinally shift a cigarette to be picked up by said gripper fingers to a position wherein the cigarette end to be ignited is disposed in a predetermined air gap forming spaced relation to said igniting element.

5. A cigarette dispenser and lighter comprising, a magazine having means to which cigarettes stored thereinmove one at a time by gravity to -a supported position subject to be engaged and removed, a manipulatable dispensing device pivotally connected to swing toward and from said magazine, said dispensing device carrying resilient gripper fingers adapted upon movement toward said magazine to straddle and grip a cigarette supported subject to removal, an electrical igniting element carried by said dispensing means so as tobe opposed to an end of the cigarette held by said gripper fingers, a switch means controlled by the movement of said dispensing means for serving energizing current to said igniting element during swinging movement of said dispensing means away from said magazine and while the same is held out-swung to cigarette delivering position, said switch means comprising an insulated stationary contact plate mounted on said magazine, an insulated contact stud carried by said dispensing means so as to move onto and ofi of the stationary contact plate respectively when said dispensing means is raised and lowered, and means for connecting said switch means and igniting element in circuit with a source of electrical energy.

6. A cigarette dispenser and lighter comprising, a magazine having means to which cigarettes stored therein move one at a time by gravity to a supported position subject to be engaged and removed, a manipulatable dispensing device pivotally connected to swing toward and from said magazine, said dispensing device carrying resilient gripper fingers adapted upon movement toward said magazine to straddle and grip a cigarette supported subject to removal, an electrical igniting element carried by said dispensing means so as to be opposed to an end of the cigarette held by said gripper fingers, a switch means controlled by the movement. of said dispensing means for serving energizing current to said igniting element during swinging movement of said dispensing means away from said magazine and while the same is held out-swung to cigarette delivering position, said switch means comprising an insulated stationary contact plate mounted on said magazine, an insulated contact stud carried by said dispensing means so as to move onto and off of the stationary contact plate respectively when said dispensing means is raised and lowered, means for connecting said switch means and igniting element in circuit with a source of electrical energy, and said dispensing means having means to longitudinally shift a cigarette to be picked up by said gripper fingers to a position wherein the cigarette end to be ignited is disposed in a predetermined air gap forming spaced relation to said igniting element.

'7. In a cigarette dispenser and lighter as defined in claim 6, wherein said magazine is provided within its interiorwith oscillatory means for agitating the cigarettes stored therein, and means controlled by movement of said dispensing means for imparting operative movement to said agitating means.

MARTIN GREENBAUM. 

